New Guinea impatiens plant named ‘Tamar Amethyst’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Tamar Amethyst’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Tamar Amethyst’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tamar Amethyst’.

The new Impatiens is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching New Guinea Impatiens cultivars with freely flowering habit and large attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AM1 071000, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fitam Light Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,223, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Tamar Amethyst has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tamar Amethyst’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tamar Amethyst’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant         form.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Fitam Light Pink. Plants of the new Impatiens differ from plants of the cultivar Fitam Light Pink in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are less vigorous than plants of         the cultivar Fitam Light Pink.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and the cultivar Fitam Light Pink         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the Impatiens cultivar Harmony Dark Lavender, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Impatiens differed from plants of the cultivar Harmony Dark Lavender in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were less vigorous than plants of         the cultivar Harmony Dark Lavender.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had darker-colored flowers than         plants of the cultivar Harmony Dark Lavender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Impatiens, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tamar Amethyst’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, in 12-cm containers and under commercial practice during the autumn in a glass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures averaging 18° C. Rooted young plants had been growing for about three months when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Tamar Amethyst. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number AM1 071000, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri cultivar Fitam             Light Pink, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,223. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at             temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21             days at temperatures of 19° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine; white to brown in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading             growth habit; mounded plant form. Freely branching habit             with about seven lateral branches; pinching is typically not             required. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 14 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy in luster.         -   Color.—146C; at the nodes, tinted with 178A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of about five; simple.         -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; moderately glossy in luster.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 174A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 138A. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 139A; venation, 195B. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 138B; venation, 138D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary             flowers. Freely flowering habit; usually about twenty             flowers develop per lateral branch. Flowers positioned above             the foliage and typically face upright or outward. Flowers             last about ten days on the plant under greenhouse             conditions. Petals self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions. In the garden, flowering from spring through             summer in The Netherlands. Plants begin flowering about nine             weeks after planting.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.8 cm. Depth: About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: 74B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.5 cm. Length, lateral             and lower petals: About 3 cm. Width, banner petal: About             4.9 cm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 3 cm. Shape,             banner petal: Cordate. Shape, lateral and lower petals:             Broadly cordate. Apex, all petals: Emarginate. Base, all             petals: Acute. Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture, all             petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             banner petal: When opening, upper surface: 74B to 74C. When             opening, lower surface: 74D; towards the margins, 74C;             center, 145B; central stripe, 144A. Fully opened, upper             surface: 74A; towards the base, close to 57A. Fully opened,             lower surface: 74C; towards the margins, 74B; center, 74B;             central stripe, 144B. Color, lateral and lower petals: When             opening, upper surface: 74B to 74C. When opening, lower             surface: 74D; towards the margins, 74C. Fully opened, upper             surface: 74A; towards the base, close to 57A. Fully opened,             lower surface: 74C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Three; one modified into an             elongated spur. Length, spurred sepal: About 1.5 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 1.5 cm. Width, spurred sepal: About             1.4 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 7 mm. Shape, spurred             sepal: Broadly ovate. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex,             all sepals: Apiculate. Base, all sepals: Cuneate. Margin,             all sepals: Entire. Texture, all sepals, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, spurred sepal: Immature,             upper surface: 55C; towards the apex, 144A; towards the             center, 155D. Immature, lower surface: 64D; towards the             apex, 144A; center, 155D. Mature, upper surface: 55C;             towards the apex, 144B; towards the center, 155D. Mature,             lower surface: 64C to 64D; towards the apex, 144B; center,             155D. Color, lateral sepals: Immature, upper surface: 55C;             towards the apex, 144A; towards the center, 155D. Immature,             lower surface: 64D; towards the apex, 144A; center, 155D.             Mature, upper surface: 144B blushed with 55C. Mature, lower             surface: 144C blushed with 55B; towards the apex, 144A to             144B. Spur length: About 6.2 cm. Spur diameter: At flower,             about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm. Spur texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Spur color: 51B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             color: 155B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 158D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 158C. Ovary             color: 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to New Guinea     Impatiens. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Tamar Amethyst’ as illustrated and described. 